WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 SPORTS Eagles players latest to join anthem protest CHICAGO: Philadelphia Eagles defensive the protests, sparked by San Francisco 49ers sary of the Sept. 11 attacks. “We didn’t want Rams, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans The protesting players have been seen players Malcolm Jenkins, Ron Brooks and quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the to mess with that day, so we left last week protested during the anthem on Sunday, as allies of the Black Lives Matter move- Steven Means stood together with raised NFL’s pre-season. alone. But moving forward, I’m sure there will while Megan Rapinoe has also knelt during ment, which grew in response to a string of fists during the US national anthem before “Last week, we talked about doing some be guys that will probably join in.” the anthem at the U.S. women’s soccer high-profile police killings of unarmed their game against the Chicago Bears on stuff, but we wanted to make sure that we Kaepernick started the protest when he team games. Other NFL players have cho- African-Americans across the country. Monday. The trio joined the movement of didn’t do anything to take away from the chose to stay seated, and then later opted sen to raise fists, recalling a similar demon- About two-thirds of NFL players are black. athletes who are using the anthem as an families that suffered from 9/11,” Jenkins said to kneel, for the anthem. He said it was a stration by athletes Tommie Smith and John Other athletes and fans have spoken out attempt to draw attention to racial inequali- in a radio interview on Friday, referring to gesture against injustice and police brutali- Carlos during their medal ceremony at the against the protests, viewing them as disre- ty. Jenkins said last week he planned to join games that coincided with the 15th anniver- ty. Several players from the Los Angeles 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. spectful. — Reuters Australia call up young guns for Saudi, Japan W Cup games SYDNEY: Austrian-based midfielder James They face Saudi Arabia, who beat Jeggo could earn his first cap for the Thailand and Iraq in their first two matches, Socceroos after being named yesterday in in Jeddah on October 6 before returning to Australia’s squad for World Cup qualifiers Melbourne on October 11 to play Japan. against Saudi Arabia and Japan next “These two games come pretty quickly month. after the two matches we played against Coach Ange Postecoglou has made Iraq and the UAE and we face similar chal- three changes to the squad, calling up the lenges against tough opposition, but we uncapped Jeggo and Netherlands-based are confident in our processes and plan- Craig Goodwin, while defender Bailey ning,” Postecoglou said. Wright returns after missing the first two Australia - Tim Cahill (Melbourne qualifiers through injury. City/AUS), Milos Degenek (1860 Jeggo, 24, moved to SK Sturm Graz this Munchen/GER), Adam Federici year after stints with Melbourne Victory (Bournemouth/ENG), Alex Gersbach and Adelaide United in Australia’s A- (Rosenborg/NOR), Craig Goodwin (Sparta League. “We’ve made a couple of slight Rotterdam/NED), Chris Ikonomidis (Aarhus tweaks to the squad in line with our mantra Gymnastikforening/DEN), Jackson Irvine of selecting players who are in form and fit- (Burton Albion/ENG), Mile Jedinak (Aston ness and we’d like to have a good look at Villa/ENG), James Jeggo (SK Sturm Craig Goodwin and James Jeggo, who have Graz/AUT), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern/SUI), started their seasons well in Europe,” Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Postecoglou said. Mitchell Langerak (Vfb Stuttgart/GER), “Bailey Wright also comes back in after Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt/GER), he missed the first two matches through Massimo Luongo (Queens Park injury and we go to Saudi Arabia and then Rangers/ENG), Ryan McGowan (Henan back to Melbourne with a squad we are Jianye/CHN), Mark Milligan (Baniyas/UAE), comfortable can continue the good start Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town/ENG), we achieved.” Tommy Rogic (Celtic/SCO), Mathew Ryan Asian champions Australia defeated Iraq (Valencia/ESP), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu 2-0 in Perth and the United Arab Emirates Suning/CHN), Brad Smith 1-0 in Abu Dhabi earlier this month to kick (Bournemouth/ENG), Matthew Spiranovic off their final round qualifying campaign (Hangzhou Greentown/CHN), Bailey Wright for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. (Preston North End/ENG). — AP CHICAGO: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) fumbles as he is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao (97) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, in Chicago. — AP Tougher tests to come for Wentz, high-flying Eagles CHICAGO: Carson Wentz took some hard hits, showed poise in the pocket and led the NFL result/standings Philadelphia Eagles to another victory. They’re about to find out how they stack up against a play- Philadelphia 29, Chicago 14. off contender. But they’re doing just fine so far. American Football Conference National Football Conference Wentz followed up an impressive NFL debut AFC East NFC East with another solid performance, throwing for W L T OTL PF PA PCT NY Giants 2 0 0 0 36 32 1.000 190 yards and a touchdown, and the Eagles beat New England 2 0 0 0 54 45 1.000 SANT JOAN DESPI: FC Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique, left, Gerard Pique, center, and Philadelphia 2 0 0 0 58 24 1.000 the Chicago Bears 29-14 on Monday night. “It NY Jets 1 1 0 0 59 54 .500 Neymar attend a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Dallas 1 1 0 0 46 43 .500 was a cool stage, Monday Night Football,” Wentz Miami 0 2 0 0 34 43 0 Sant Joan Despi, Spain, yesterday. — AP Washington 0 2 0 0 39 65 0 said. “Everything’s sweet. But again, it was a foot- Buffalo 0 2 0 0 38 50 0 ball game and we came out with a win.” NFC North Luis Enrique, Simeone unite AFC North Minnesota 2 0 0 0 42 30 1.000 The No. 2 overall pick, Wentz is delivering as Baltimore 2 0 0 0 38 27 1.000 advertised so far for the Eagles (2-0). He followed Detroit 1 1 0 0 54 51 .500 Pittsburgh 2 0 0 0 62 32 1.000 Green Bay 1 1 0 0 41 40 .500 to defend ‘spectacular’ Neymar up a strong performance against Cleveland by Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 39 46 .500 Chicago 0 2 0 0 28 52 0 completing 21 of 34 passes and playing Cleveland 0 2 0 0 30 54 0 NFC South BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Luis Enrique ments. “He has his own style and I think it’s turnover-free ball for the second straight game. AFC South and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone spectacular for football. We enjoy his play a But it’s one thing to do it against the rebuild- Houston 2 0 0 0 42 26 1.000 Tampa Bay 1 1 0 0 38 64 .500 have launched impassioned defences of lot at Barca,” Luis Enrique told a news confer- ing Browns and Bears. The schedule gets a little Tennessee 1 1 0 0 32 40 .500 Carolina 1 1 0 0 66 48 .500 Neymar after the Brazilian’s showboating ence yesterday. “We know what world we live tougher next week when the Eagles host the Indianapolis 0 2 0 0 55 73 0 Atlanta 1 1 0 0 59 59 .500 again came under the spotlight. in and what people focus on, but I like his Pittsburgh Steelers. Jacksonville 0 2 0 0 37 65 0 New Orleans 0 2 0 0 47 51 0 Former Barcelona great Michael Laudrup concept of football, and no-one in La Liga can The Bears, meanwhile, are in danger of seeing AFC West NFC West lambasted the Brazil international for “pro- be surprised by it now. their season slip away. Not only did they follow Denver 2 0 0 0 55 40 1.000 San Francisco 1 1 0 0 55 46 .500 voking” the opposition in Saturday’s 5-1 win “Perhaps it’s better to criticise things that up a season-opening loss at Houston with a dis- Kansas City 1 1 0 0 45 46 .500 Los Angeles 1 1 0 0 9 31 .500 at Leganes and Neymar’s flamboyant style are against the rules, as there is nothing say- mal performance, they lost quarterback Jay Oakland 1 1 0 0 63 69 .500 Arizona 1 1 0 0 61 30 .500 will be scrutinised again on Wednesday when ing you cannot do spectacular tricks.” Atletico Cutler to a right thumb injury. With that in mind, San Diego 1 1 0 1 65 47 .500 Seattle 1 1 0 0 15 19 .500 Barcelona host Atletico. coach Simeone also defended Neymar when here are some takeaways from the game. Commentating on Saturday’s game at asked if he would be bothered if Neymar Leganes for BeIN sports, Laudrup said he attempted similar tricks against his side HELPING WENTZ TAKE IT AWAY ON THE BRIGHT SIDE? understood why Lluis Sastre kicked out at today. “He has a particular style of play, like The Eagles aren’t getting much from their run The Eagles won the turnover battle 3-0, includ- As bad as the Bears have looked so far, Neymar during the game. everyone else, but I love it,” Simeone said yes- game, but their defense sure is chipping in.